Duchess Sophie steps up as Princess Kate, Prince William and King Charles out of action
The Duchess of Edinburgh appeared to be in good spirits today as she visited Surrey and even had a happy birthday boogie.
Duchess Sophie was all smiles as she danced the day away during a visit to a charity on Thursday in Surrey - despite the royal crisis after the health bombshells of Princess Kate and King Charles.
The Duchess of Edinburgh visited disability charity Elmbridge Mencap - of which she is a patron - in Walton-on-Thames.
The charity supports people with learning disabilities and their parents/carers in Elmbridge and the surrounding areas.
Sophie, who turns 59 on Saturday, was seen singing and dancing to a happy birthday song the charity had prepared for her.
In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, the royal can be seen grooving to Stevie Wonder's 1980 classic Happy Birthday.
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Later, the duchess toured the Community Projects at Burwell Hall where she walked into the woodland area, and planted seeds and a tree, while she also met with students from the the Forest School.
Sophie was the epitome of elegance in a green Patch Pocket fitted jacked by Victoria Beckham and colour-matching high-waisted flare-leg trousers by the same brand.
She paired the look with a Victoria Beckham camouflage shirt and Prada's Madras ankle boots in brown.
Sophie completed the cosy ensemble with a brown woolly scarf.
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The Duchess of Edinburgh dancing to Happy Birthday on a visit Walton Charity and Elmbridge mencap. #HappyBirthday pic.twitter.com/beruNGr9It
— Rookie (@royalfocus1) January 18, 2024
The Duchess of Edinburgh is thought to have been asked to step in to help juggle the workload after the King and the Princess of Wales's health issues.
On Wednesday both Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace announced separately that Princess Kate underwent abdominal surgery in London, while the King is scheduled for an enlarged prostate operation next week.
Both royals had to clear their diaries and while the King is said to be expected to work from hospital, the Princess of Wales is not expected to be back on her royal duties until after Easter.
Now it's down to the few senior working royals to help with engagements until Charles and Kate are back in good health.